Mc1week 10 09

Mc1week 10 09

• 1.
  Cultural Mythologies MediaCultures NEWM1001 Week 10 - 22 September 2009
• 2.
  Myth ‘ Ancientor not, mythology can only have an historical foundation, for myth is a type of speech chosen by history: it cannot possibly evolve from the ‘nature of things … Speech of this kind is a message … It can consist of modes of writing or of representations … photography, cinema, reporting, sport, shows, publicity …’ (Barthes, ‘Myth To-day’, 2000:110) Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 3.
  Semiotics and InterpretationFerdinand Sassure’s structure of language: Signified object is ‘denoted’ by a Signifier (an actual tree) (the word ‘tree’ or in another language …?) The combination of the Signified + the Signifier = SIGN (the object) + (the word) This combination, this SIGN, ‘connotes’ many different meanings, and depending on how many of these we are familiar with, we interpret the sign’s meanings Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 4.
  A second levelof interpretation At the level of connotation and myth, this sign becomes a new signifier. The new signified are all the stories that can be interpreted and linked to the image, and the new sign is the ‘myth’. i.e. Sign (1) + Signified (2) = SIGN (2) word+ thing stories myth referred to Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 5.
  ‘Reading’ Images DenotationThe literal meaning of an image, the content what we can see and name as we look at the image. Our description of what the image depicts in a ‘commonsense’ way. What is ‘signified’. Connotation Wider fields of meaning that can be drawn from the image. The broader semantic field. All the possible interpretations that different people can read into an image – all the different stories it can tell. What the ‘sign’ has to say. So let’s look again now at Barthes’ definition of ‘myth’… Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 6.
  Myth ‘ Ancientor not, mythology can only have an historical foundation, for myth is a type of speech chosen by history: it cannot possibly evolve from the ‘nature of things … Speech of this kind is a message … It can consist of modes of writing or of representations … photography, cinema, reporting, sport, shows, publicity …’ (Barthes, ‘Myth To-day’, 2000:110) Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 7.
  Denotation – Connotation- Myth Denotation What is signifier? What is in the picture? What does it refer to? Connotation Broader interpretation Myth What is the ‘wider, cultural message or theme?’ (Hall 1997:40) Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 8.
  What stories arehere? Is there a myth? Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 9.
  Does it differhere? Or is it part of the same one? Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 10.
  Another kind oftoy story Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 11.
  What myths doesthis image key into? Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 12.
  Myth as a type of speech , communication, that has been ‘chosen by history’ Barthes,110 Likewise, societies choose what becomes history – we choose our myths Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 13.
  Myths are oftenOpen Secrets Eg. “wine” and “milk” Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 14.
  In terms ofFoucault’s sense of ‘discourse’ and power: Secrecy can serve to hide the mechanisms of the ways in which a particular discourse makes it easy to manipulate power. Secrecy can also create ‘cracks’ in power systems where people can exercise some freedom in and gain some protection from the power wielded within a particular discourse. Secrecy happens because it is to someone’s advantage if a story remains hidden. Secrecy often has to do with shame or taboo. Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 15.
  Other Myths? ANZACPrincess Mary – Crown Princess of Denmark New Media Commonsense Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes
• 16.
  Angels How many myths, or is it just a really big one embracing many beliefs and practices? Slide credit: Catherine Summerhayes